Our Bracknell BID Board directors give their time voluntarily and without payment to help govern and champion the work of our BID team.
They help us steer our projects and planning so, to say thank you for playing such a huge part in the estate, we would like to share their stories.
Meet Maria Sabey, our Bracknell BID Chair….
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Tell us a little bit about you and your company
I work for Fujitsu and have done so for 22 years. What I love most about the company is that it is a really forward thinking and inclusive organization, with a strong, responsible business culture.
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Can you give us some background to your working career?
I had a long career in operational management – specifically facilities management. I have worked my way up in Fujitsu and very proud to be the Head of Property within the UK and Ireland. I am also the environmental lead for the company, and heavily involved in safety management.
I have always felt very passionate about training and development, and my single biggest motivator is seeing people progress with their careers.
Apprenticeships are an amazing opportunity for any sized business, and it is something that we actively embrace at Fujitsu.
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Why are you a BID board director/why do you volunteer your time for the local business community?
I have always worked closely with the local authority who initially sparked my interest going back about 5 years. I then met Bob Collis, the Chair of the ESDP, and we held a number of meetings and informal discussions exchanging ideas around the way in which a BID could bring many benefits to the area. From there, we all started to approach other organisations to seek their views and realised there was much wider interest and support. We then formed a BID Committee and spent time listening to organisations within our now defined target area together with formal surveys. We established a relationship with People for Better Business (pfbb) – our new strategic BID Partner – and once a Business Plan was developed, we went to formal Ballot in October 2019.
My reasons are very simple – I’ve very passionate about the business community supporting each other as it brings about advantage to all organisations within the area and often wider. The more we improve the area the more advantage we bring to the business community and hopefully attract others to use the area as a base.
The BID is in its second year now and we transformed quite quickly to adapt to the external landscape – we are now focused on recovery and we hope to bring the business community together more as we progress – there are so many mutual benefits and I’m very committed to another year as the Chair of the BID as I work with so many engaged and passionate professionals who give up their time for common goals.
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Why are you passionate about Bracknell BID area?
I’m a Welsh girl and grew up in Ireland. I’ve worked in and around Bracknell for some 22 years now, and I live locally in Woodley. In previous years I’ve attended many different networking events, and always felt we needed a little more continuity as we can lose momentum as the event closes. I’ve often wondered what else could be achieved and I do see this as a key role for the BID as we start to recover.
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Do you feel passionate about business growth in the area?
Yes absolutely – there are so many advantages to Bracknell as a location and we have a great range of businesses in the area from some well-known names to smaller organisations, SME’s and those in startups. I think we all know there will be changes to varying extents as we start to recover socially and financially and what better time for local organisations to collaborate, support each other, establish trading relationships and bring about improvements to the environment which will also benefit our employees.
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What skills and experience do you bring to the BID board?
My passion and belief in our Business Plan which is based on feedback from businesses within the area. I’m very focused on service delivery and motivated to work with others to ensure we deliver against the projects – the business community could and should measure the achievements of the BID as we do set out what we plan to achieve. I’m also very driven, I don’t give up easily and I believe in the role of the BID in bringing about the change we have all identified as needed.
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What difference do you hope the BID will have made in the next five years?
We have a Business Plan which sets out our key objectives and as this is based on direct feedback from the businesses we represent, this will be our key achievements/measures. However, there is more to be done and the BID won’t shy away from helping businesses who are struggling where it is possible to do so – initiatives such as the dedicated PCSO’s, the newly installed defibrillators, the progress we are making around improving our green spaces etc, could all bring about much wider benefits for so many within the area.
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What do you like to do in your spare time?
Riding my horse or spending time at the stables – this is truly my happy place and a chance to recharge my batteries. I have all my best ideas when I am with the horses. I am also a baker and enjoy baking for friends and family.
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What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
When something goes wrong, step back and look at your own input/handling or performance first.